‘We’ll Be A Problem’: Dallas Mavericks’ Big Lineup Shines In Preseason Win Over Los Angeles Lakers
The Dallas Mavericks closed out their preseason slate with a dominant 121–94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena, unveiling a massive lineup that could redefine how they attack and defend in the 2025–26 season. What began as an early struggle—falling behind by as many as 17 points—quickly turned into a statement performance as Dallas overwhelmed Los Angeles with size, length, and physicality.
Head coach Jason Kidd leaned fully into experimentation in the finale, rolling out a supersized starting group of Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II. The 6-foot-6 Thompson was the shortest player on the floor, surrounded by four players standing 6-8 or taller. The approach allowed the Mavericks to dominate the boards, dictate pace, and erase their early deficit with a 68–28 second-half surge.
While Kidd has yet to commit to opening the regular season with this look, the performance sent a clear message — the Mavericks intend to leverage their size as a defining identity.
Dallas Mavericks’ Big Lineup Flashes Two-Way Potential
From the moment the group took the floor, it was clear the Mavericks’ length was going to create problems. With Davis and Lively patrolling the interior, Washington and Flagg switching freely on the perimeter, and Thompson spacing the floor, Dallas looked like the team Kidd envisioned when this roster was assembled.
Anthony Davis led the charge with 18 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes, anchoring the team’s interior presence on both ends. After the game, he said the lineup’s combination of height and versatility gives Dallas an edge few teams can match.
“There’s a lot of positives that we can do,” Davis said. “Obviously, defensively, we’ll be a problem. Offensively, we’re just much bigger than anybody so there’s always going to be a mismatch on the floor. We just got to rep it more (in practice). We got six or seven days before our first game, so we’ll look at some film and see where we can get better, what looks really good and go from there.”
Cooper Flagg, the 18-year-old rookie tasked with handling point-forward responsibilities, said the lineup’s strength lies in its adaptability. He emphasized that size alone won’t guarantee success but that their versatility creates matchup headaches across positions.
“We put a lot of size out there, so we have to use it to our advantage defensively,” Flagg said. “We rebounded it well. It just works.”
The results backed up those comments. Lively finished with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double while Washington and Flagg each scored 13 and Thompson added 12. Dallas won the points-in-the-paint battle 60–34 and held the Lakers to just eight fourth-quarter points.
Jason Kidd Praises Progress, But Notes Offensive Work Still Needed
For Kidd, the game served as both validation and a teaching tool. He liked the defensive growth but pointed to stretches of stagnant offense that allowed the Lakers to build their early lead.
“I thought the energy could be better, but coming back from the Charlotte game, I thought the first half was similar,” Kidd said. “We talked about it at halftime, and for a group to be down and respond the way they did was a positive. There was a lot of good stuff defensively.”
Kidd believes the team’s next step is sustaining flow when mismatches appear. With so many players capable of exploiting size advantages, he wants to see more cutting, passing, and off-ball movement to avoid devolving into isolation play.
“Defensively, I think they’re fine,” Kidd said. “Offensively, we can get a little stagnant because we have so many mismatches, and sometimes we just play one-on-one. That’s not who we are. We want to cut, we want to use the pass, and we just didn’t do that in the first six minutes. The second half was more of the style we want to play—it was an improvement.”
Even with rotational questions still to be answered, Kidd was encouraged by the development of his players, especially the two-way contributors pushing for permanent roles. “We’re getting healthy here, so there’s some different combinations,” he added. “Ryan (Nembhard) could easily be in that rotation—he’s made a case for that. He’s on a two-way, so there are a lot of positive stories here. We’ll see by the 21st who’s sturdy and how the rotation will look.”
Anthony Davis Rounding Into Form After Eye Surgery
The win also represented a turning point for Davis, who has been steadily regaining rhythm after undergoing offseason eye surgery that now requires him to wear protective goggles for the rest of his career. The 10-time All-Star admitted the recovery process interrupted his summer training, but the preseason helped him find his footing ahead of the regular season.
“I feel good,” Davis said. “The time I missed with the eye, I’m starting to find somewhat of a rhythm. I feel good. I try to approach every game the same, even preseason. That’s why I played all four, to kind of get that rhythm going into the regular season. I’m trying to get myself and all the guys ready to be mentally ready.”
Davis’ conditioning looked sharp against the Lakers as he battled on the boards and controlled the paint. Kidd noted that Davis’ consistency has been a stabilizing force during the team’s experimentation period.
The Mavericks’ physical style has also paid dividends at the free-throw line. Dallas outshot Los Angeles 28–18 at the stripe, marking their third game this preseason with a double-digit advantage in free throws attempted. Kidd said the team’s strength and size are beginning to translate into the type of pressure he wants to see every night.
“The one thing we’ve really talked about is we have to dominate the free-throw line,” Kidd said. “And I think we’ve done that here in the preseason and we’re going to have to do that throughout the season.”
Cooper Flagg’s Poise Standing Out Early
While Davis’ leadership and the frontcourt’s dominance drew attention, Flagg’s composure as a teenager running an NBA offense might have been the most impressive storyline of the night. Kidd praised his ability to manage tempo and involve teammates despite facing veteran defenders.
“I thought he did great—just understanding time and score, keeping track of who got shots, and what the last shot was,” Kidd said. “That’ll come with reps, but he’s done an incredible job running the team. The other thing is his teammates enjoy him running the team, and that doesn’t always happen in this league.”
Flagg acknowledged the learning curve of defending quicker guards and making in-game adjustments, particularly after Lakers guard Gabe Vincent erupted for 15 first-quarter points.
“I made some mental lapses today—time and score situations, awareness of the clock,” Flagg said. “I need to stay more attached defensively and not let a hot player keep getting looks. That’s all part of learning.”
Still, his maturity has impressed the Mavericks’ veterans. Davis, who’s taken on a mentor role, said Flagg’s professionalism stands out for his age.
“He’s playing phenomenal on both ends and adjusting really well,” Davis said. “He asks questions and listens. Most rookies hit a wall, but I think his season will be different. Even with high expectations, we don’t have to put too much pressure on him to be everything right away. He’s doing everything we ask and more.”
Flagg, meanwhile, said the focus remains on balance and trust within the offense. “We’re getting great looks,” he said. “Shots haven’t fallen as consistently as we want, but it’s preseason—they’ll come. We trust the work we’ve put in. When we move the ball and play our brand of basketball, we get what we want.”
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks finished the preseason 3–1, a mark that underscores steady growth rather than perfection. Their new system continues to evolve, their health is improving, and their identity as a physical, defensive-minded team with size at every position is beginning to take shape.
As the focus shifts to opening night against the San Antonio Spurs, Kidd’s task will be solidifying rotations and maintaining offensive fluidity. Between Davis’ leadership, Lively’s rebounding, and Flagg’s adaptability, the Mavericks appear to have the foundation of a team built to make noise right away.
With the supersized lineup flashing real promise, Dallas left Las Vegas confident that its biggest advantage — literally and figuratively — could be the one thing opponents can’t match.
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